Output method and apparatus

Abstract

Output apparatus and method of a printer, a display, or the like for receiving a group of commands from a host computer and for changing subsequent data processes. The output apparatus comprises: a substituting circuit for substituting another discrimination information for discrimination information to be changed in accordance with an input of instruction information to instruct a change in discrimination information stored; and an executing circuit for executing a predetermined operation shown by the discrimination information before it is substituted by the substituting circuit in accordance with an input of the discrimination information substituted by the substituting circuit. A command table of an output unit is rewritten by a special command from the host computer, thereby enabling a desired outputting process to be selectively executed while the host computer easily discriminates the output unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A print control apparatus which analyzes print data received from an external apparatus, generates output data based on the analyzed print data, and controls a print apparatus to print the output data, comprising: table means for storing a plurality of commands, which can be included in the print data received from the external apparatus, together with information indicative of data processing corresponding to the commands; and   control means for replacing in said table means at least a first command included in the plurality of stored commands with a second command, when a specific command is received from the external apparatus designating that the first command is to be replaced by the second command.   
     
     
       2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table means stores the plurality of commands in a non-volatile memory. 
     
     
       3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the first command designated by the specific command does not exist in said table means, said control means so informs externally of said print control apparatus. 
     
     
       4. A print control method for use with a data table in which a plurality of commands is stored in correspondence with data processing information, said method comprising the steps of: receiving print data from an external apparatus;   determining whether the print data includes one of the stored commands in order to process the print data in accordance with the data processing information corresponding to the one of the stored commands; and   if the print data includes a change command designating that a first command is to be replaced by a second command, replacing in the table the first command with the second command.   
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of, if the first command designated in the change command is not stored in the table, transmitting an error signal. 
     
     
       6. A computer-readable memory medium for storing computer-executable process steps for use with a data table in which a plurality of commands is stored in correspondence with data processing information, the computer-executable process steps comprising: receiving print data from an external apparatus;   determining whether the print data includes one of the stored commands in order to process the print data in accordance with the data processing information corresponding to the one of the stored commands; and   if the print data includes a change command designating that a first command is to be replaced by a second command, replacing in the table the first command with the second command.   
     
     
       7. The memory medium according to claim 4, wherein the computer-executable process steps further comprise the step of, if the first command designated in the change command is not stored in the table, transmitting an error signal.